Only Visiting This Planet

Only Visiting This Planet
Studio album by Larry Norman
Released	1972
Recorded	AIR Studios, London
Label	Verve
Producer	Rod Edwards, Roger Hand and Jon Miller
Professional reviews
Allmusic [1]
Larry Norman chronology
Bootleg (1972) Only Visiting This Planet (1972) So Long Ago the Garden (1973)

Only Visiting This Planet is the title of an album recorded by Larry Norman in 1972. The album was selected as the second album in CCM Magazine's The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.^[2]

History

This album was recorded in London at George Martin's AIR Studios in 1972^[3].

In the song "Reader's Digest" Norman sings the following verse: "Dear John, who's more popular now? I´ve been listening to some of Paul's new records. Sometimes I think he really is dead." (see Paul is dead) "Who's more popular now?" makes reference to John Lennon's famous claim that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. The album features prog-rock bassist and Asia frontman, John Wetton on bass guitar.

This album was supposed to be number six in a series of fourteen albums, as mentioned on the inner sleeve of "Something New Under The Son" (albums number nine through fourteen have not been released, see part II). A three-LP boxed set containing albums #6, #7 & #8 and titled The Compleat Trilogy (as mentioned on the insert of the Street Level reissue of "Only Visiting This Planet") has never been released. This boxed set should feature the trilogy as Larry Norman originally intended. The LP Only Visiting This Planet in this set should feature the complete version of "I Wish We'd All Been Ready."

Tracks

All tracks composed by Larry Norman

Original LP release

Side 1

1. "I've Got To Learn To Live Without You"
2. "The Outlaw"
3. "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus"
4. "Righteous Rocker #1"
5. "I Wish We'd All Been Ready"

Side 2

1. "I Am Six O'clock News"
2. "The Great American Novel"
3. "Pardon Me"
4. "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music"
5. "Reader's Digest"
6. "Oh, How I Love You" (Not listed)

Extra tracks on CD releases

1. "PeacePollutionRevolution" (1971 single)
2. "Righteous Rocker" (rough mix)
3. "The Outlaw" (demo)
4. "Digest" (rock version)

Personnel

• Larry Norman – vocals, piano
• John Wetton – bass
• Keith Smart – drums
• Mickey Keen – guitar
• Rod Edwards – piano and backing vocals
• Roger Hand – backing vocals
• Gordon Giltrap – guitar
• Bob Brady – piano
• Bill Price – engineer

References

1. ^ Allender, Mark W. B.. "(Review) Only Visiting This Planet". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wjfixq95ldte. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
2. ^ Granger, Thom (2001). The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Harvest House. ISBN 0736902813. 
3. ^ Granger, Thom (2001). The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Harvest House. ISBN 0736902813. 

See also

• Larry Norman discography